I am considering buying a new RV, travel trailer. One model I am considering is only available with a 12v only fridge. We are "weekend warriors" , never long stay. What are the disadvantages of this?

Depends on a lot of factors. Will you have electric hookups? If so, it's a non issue. If you won't have electric hookups, the fridge is going to rely on the batteries with no way to re-charge them (unless you have a generator or solar (more on that below)). Then it becomes a math problem. You need to understand the amp draw from the fridge (as well as anything else that will be drawing on them, including 110 items that run off an inverter if it's equipped that way). Basically find out your total amp draw for the weekend then compare that to your amp hours your batteries can provide. (there are nuances to this not the least of which is not drawing your batteries too low). If you have solar, that's good but most RVs only come with enough solar to keep the batteries charged during storage - not really enough to continually replenish a deep draw down daily. Other folks on here are really well versed in calculating amp hours etc, but that's the basics.

12 volt only refrigerator | Good Sam Community

6 Replies

dougbo44
Explorer
Nov 19, 2025
Thanks .......since we will always be camping with landline power, I may make my purchase.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Nov 18, 2025
Been RVing for years and years now and you don’t understand the basic concepts? I would suggest spending a little time enlightening yourself.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Nov 17, 2025
a 12V fridge is ment for camping with power, in my opinion. can you do it with out power hookups yes you can but the longer your trip is then the more you have to compensate with battery capacity and or solar.

So to realy answer your question what does "weekend warrior" mean to you. are you camping in a rv park for a weekend with full hookups typicly, or are you going out into the bush with no hookups?

Personaly I would never buy a camper or trailer with a 12V fridge but thats because I typicly go for 7 day tripps or longer and I am not reliant on pluging in. If I had a 12V fridge then I would have to increase my solar and battery capacity to compensate for it and that can get expensive.

but having said all that, if this is the model you are in love with and is "The One" don't let the trype of fridge stop you from having what you think suits you best. just know that if you camp with out hookups you need to compensate with the battery capacity and maybe solar also depending what you want. One thing making it easier is the afordable battery capacity availble in LiFePO4 batteries. it used to be you had to finance your first born to get them, now the price has dropped so much they are the cheepest type of battery you can get, and even cheeper when you factor in their life span.
- Grit_dog
  Navigator III
  Nov 18, 2025
  At least DC only fridges are slightly more non-hookup friendly than AC only.
  But both are either very difficult to deal with (without spending $$$ on your own hot rod power setup) for anything other than shore power setups.
  On the upside, these great new RV fridge offerings should help to reduce the number of wannabe boondockers or at least reduce their length of stay in the boonies…..
  - StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Nov 19, 2025
    haha ya that is one upside I guess LOL. ya I find it funny when I see all the stuff with 12V fridges and the lack of propane. a 14 buck propane fill will run a fridge for 2 to 3 months, where as an electric one needs a 200 - 300 battery to run it over night, well maybe a bit cheeper the 100AH lifepo4 batteries are getting pretty cheep
way2roll
Trailblazer
Nov 17, 2025
Depends on a lot of factors. Will you have electric hookups? If so, it's a non issue. If you won't have electric hookups, the fridge is going to rely on the batteries with no way to re-charge them (unless you have a generator or solar (more on that below)). Then it becomes a math problem. You need to understand the amp draw from the fridge (as well as anything else that will be drawing on them, including 110 items that run off an inverter if it's equipped that way). Basically find out your total amp draw for the weekend then compare that to your amp hours your batteries can provide. (there are nuances to this not the least of which is not drawing your batteries too low). If you have solar, that's good but most RVs only come with enough solar to keep the batteries charged during storage - not really enough to continually replenish a deep draw down daily. Other folks on here are really well versed in calculating amp hours etc, but that's the basics.

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12 volt only refrigerator

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